By Aaron Nathans, Associated Press, 09/26/96;
01:03
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - In an effort to bolster
environmental protection, Vermont lawmakers have
joined legislators in 36 other states to support
an amendment the U.S. Constitution.
Vermont environmental activists said on Wednesday
the proposal to add environmental protection to
the Constitution would provide a lasting tool for
judges to make rulings that protect natural
resources.
``We're just tending the farm for the next few
generations,'' state Rep. John Tracy,
D-Burlington, said at a Wednesday news conference.
``That's where the crux of this comes from. We
have to bring this to the national debate.''
In a letter to presidential candidates and
congressional leaders, the amendment supporters
said it was essential ``in light of recent Supreme
Court rulings, the increased influence of special
interests on environmental policy and recent
attempts to compromise fundamental environmental
protections.''
Supporters said they expected the proposal would
focus attention on the need to protect the
environment.
An amendment to the U.S. Constitution must be
approved by two-thirds of both houses of Congress
and three-quarters of state legislatures.
Nevertheless, Rep. Mary Sullivan, D-Burlington,
said she felt ``the time has come to include this
amendment in the Constitution.''
The proposed amendment reads:
``The natural resources of the nation are the
heritage of present and future generations. The
right of each person to clean and healthful air
and water, and to the protection of the other
natural resources of the nation, shall not be
infringed upon by any person.''
Stephen Holmes, acting executive director of the
Vermont Natural Resources Council, said the
country's resources are seeing an unprecedented
onslaught in the legislative and congressional
arenas.
Holmes said there has been pressure to try to
develop the Arctic Wildlife Refuge for oil
drilling, open up land in the West for mining and
grazing, and cut old growth forests. He said that
in Vermont, issues include water being taken for
private use out of public streams, forest
clear-cutting and herbicide spraying.
Holmes said there has been ``a general tone of
trying to exempt all sorts of businesses from
complying with our air and water quality laws.
``I think something like this proposal would start
to get the debate back on a positive footing, one
that really affirms the right of all Americans and
all Vermonters to clean water, clean air and clean
land to live on,'' Holmes said.